Indicating device for charging furnaces



(No Model.)

E. WALSH, Jr. INDIUATING DEVICE FOR CHARGING FURNACES. N0.'401,521. Patented Apr. 16, 1889.

T I I r a u z 3 '5 {MM-M6414 2W PETERS. Pmwmmm. wan-am u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIVARD \VALSH, JR, OF ST. LOUIS, MlSSOl Rl.

lNDlCATlNG DEVICE FOR CHARGING FURNACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,521, dated April 16, 1889.

' Application filed August 16, 1888. Serial No. 282,871. (No model.)

To all whom it 'lrmy concern:

Be it known that l, EDWARD IVALSH, J11, a

citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State Of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Indicating Devicet'or Charging Apparatus of Blast-Furnaces, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention is illustrated and described, though. not claimed, in my application for Letters Patent for charging apparatus for blast-furnaces filed by me on the 20th day of May, 1888, Serial No. 275,200.

The object of my presentinvention is to indicate t0 the operator when a fresh supply of materials is required for the furnace; and it consists in the arrangement and combination of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

The figure of the drawing represents a sectional elevation of my charging apparatus described and claimed in my said application, No. 275,206, as applied to a blast-.t'urnace above the stock -line, partly broken away, showing my electrical indicating device.

With reference to the said drawing, as described in my said application, No. 275,206, (1, represents the hopper, through which the ma terials are charged into the furnace through the shaft l) at the stock-line. Combined and in vertical line with the hopper a is a conical or cylindrical magazine or chamber, c, of sufficient capacity to contain a supply of several charges of the materials to the furnace. \Vithin the upper open end or month of the magazine or chamber (7- is inserted a hopper-frame, ll, of suitable depth and flanged internally at its lower end for supporting a conical-shaped annular ring or collar, c, having a central supply-opening, which is closed or opened circumfcrentially to the magazine or cham ber c by the bell j, which projects centrally upward into the box or hopper (l c, as hereinafter more particularly described.

To the top of the bell fare secured chains 9, which pass upward over pulleys 71, and carry attheir other ends weights i for counterbalaneing the bell f.

To the top of the bell f is centrally attached r the lower end of a rod, j, which extends ver tically upward through a hollow piston-rod,

7;, fixed to a piston which is capable of reciprocation within the cylinder. The suspensionl rod of the bell f is normally secured to the piston-rod 7; by keys, keyways for which are formed in the rod j at distances apart correspending with the stroke of the piston. The motive fluid is admitted to the cylinder above or below the piston, as required, by means of a three-way cock, 0, worked by pulley p and endless rope g from any convenient position adjacent to the furnace, or the admission of motive fluid to the cylinder may be regulated in any other suitable manner, as found most convenient.

For carrying the entire apparatus the upper end of the magazine or chamber 0 is supported by the ring-casting 2', carried by the columns a, which rest on the top of the furnace-shaft D. On the ring rare uprights connected together at the top by girders '21, which support the bearings of the pulleys h, eountcrbalanee-weights '1', and cylinder with its appendages. l lencath the girders (1 are rollers 2, for guiding the suspension-rod j of the bell f.

For charging the furnace the motive fluid is admitted to the cylinder above the piston, which is thereliiy forced to the bottom of the cylinder and lowers the bell 1', so as to unclose the supply-opening through the bottom of the box or hoppers r] c and open com munication between the latter and the magazine or chamber 0. The materials are then dumped in regular charges through the box or hopper d 6 into the furnace and magazine or chamber c until the latter is filled to the desired level, when the motive fluid is exhaust-ed from above and admitted below the piston, which is thereby forced to the top of the cyl inder and raises the bell 1', so as to close the supply-opening in the bottom of the box or hopper (l e, and thereby prevent the subsequent escape of the gases of combustion from the magazine or chamber 1'.

In the wall of the magazine or chamber c, somewhat above the stock-line adjacent to the hopper u, is pivoted a lever, a, of the first kind, the outer arm of which external to the magazine or chamber c is provided with an armature, .1, while its other arm is directed i downward and pressed upon by the materials within the magazine or chamber 0, so as to normally hold the lever 11', with its armature .21, out of contact with an adjacent elcctromagnet,1

\Vhen the materials in the magazine or chamber 0 have fallen during the operation of the furnace below the level of the inner arm of the lever w, the magnet 3 being con- 5 *stantly energized by battery 7 in local cir- 1. The combination, with the magazine of a blast-furnace, of an open alarm-circuit and a lever controlled by the charge in the magazine and adapted to automatically close the alarm-circuit, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In an indicating device for furnaces, the combination, with the magazine, of a pivoted lever, one arm of which projects into the magazine and is operated upon by the material therein, an electro-magnet operating upon the other arm of the lever, and an electric alarm-circuit in which the electro-magnet is located, substantially as-and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses, this 13th day of August, 1888.

EDl/VA'RD WALSH, JR.

Witnesses:

S. L. SCHRADER, PAUL BAKEWELL. 

